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Several key global airports across the United States, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have decided to prevent a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing federal government shutdown from being shown at their screening locations.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have declined to display the video content at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits government workers from participating in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators decline to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are working without pay,” the Secretary said in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “would not agree to airing the PSA in its current form, as we consider the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political aims.” It added that Oregon law bars public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to play this content would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a statement that “the video's message contained partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, educational purpose of the public service announcements usually displayed at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a federal law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan.

Further Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “refused to display the PSA” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the TSA does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a public comment, called the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Response

A DHS official, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was striving to find ways to support government workers working without pay during the closure.